Lace lock numeral tag



Oct. 12, 1937. R. E. HERMsoN LACE LOCK NUMERAL TAG Filed June 10, 1935 Eobrf Effrmsm ATTORN I! v Patented Oct. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for lace shoes by which the free portions of the lace are held in constant relation to each other.

The primary object of my inventioniis to provide a device of economical construction which will function to hold the free portions of a shoe lace so that same may not during lacing of the shoes be pulled unevenly, which device may be readily placed in an inconspicuous position in the shoe.

A further object is to provide a device of. the character indicated which, in addition to the above, may function as a numeral or an identification tag, the same being attached to the shoe during the usual method of lacing.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the application, with the understanding, however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modfications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an athletic shoe and showing my lace lock device installed for use therein.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of my lace lock device apart-from the shoe; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 andshowing the shoe lace in place therein, the lace being arranged substantially as tho the device were installed in the'shoe.

Briefly stated, my invention resides in providing a flexible tag of suitable shape so provided with apertures and other cut out portions that when the lace is threaded thru same and thereafter laced into the shoe, the extending portions of the lace are prevented from being pulled uneven.

Referring now to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof and particularly to Fig. 2, my device comprises a flexible tag 4 of a suitable material, such as leather, the same being of keystone shape and symmetrical on its center line. In the lower portion of the tag 4 are out two eyelets 5, the same being equidistant from the center of the tag. The eyelets 5 are spaced from each other a distance equal to the spacing of the lowermost eyelets in the shoe and are of a minimum diameter sufficient to permit the insertion of a lace tip thru the eyelet. The upper corners of the tag 4 are each cut away arcuately as at 6, the minimum width of the tag between the cut-out portions 6 being substantially equal to the spacing of the eyelets 5. The tag 4 is further provided with a pair of slots 1 symmetrically arranged and so positioned as to permit passage of the shoe lace thru same, the lace being in its normal position in the shoe.

As aforestated, my device provides a convenient identification tag for the shoe for which purpose suitable numerals or other characters 8 are placed on the lower central portion of the tag 4 so that same may be visible thru the opening in the shoe tip, as shown in Fig. 1. It is to be noted here that my device is intended for use particularly with athletic shoes, the lasts of which are shaped substantially as shown. In that the tag 4 is attached to the shoe by the usual lace means the hasty removal of same with malicious intent may be avoided.

In considering the method of placing my device in the shoe, reference is directed to Fig. 3, in which the shoe lace 9 is arranged on the tag 4 substantially as tho the lace were placed in the shoe. Prior to threading the lace into the eyelets of the shoe both ends of the lace are inserted thru the eyelets 5 and the extending portions of. the lace are brought up evenly. The two lace tips are then inserted in the lowermost eyelets of the shoe and the lace is drawn up so that the tag 4 takes its position in the toe of the shoe above the tongue-thereof, substantially as shown in Fig. 1. The free ends of the lace are then crossed and inserted thru the respective slots 1 from which the portions of the lace are brought around the arcuate portions 6 of the tag 4 and thence into the corresponding eyelets of the shoe. From this point the laces are threaded into the shoe in the usual manner.

The locking of the shoe lace as aforementioned is effected by providing the eyelets 5 of a minimum diameter so that when the lace is placed therein the eyelets offer an appreciable resistance to the pulling of the lace. The angular arrangement of the crossed lace extending from the eyelets 5 further assures this effect in that thedisposition of the slots 1 maintains the crossed relation of the lace even tho the shoe be almost entirely unlaced,

What is claimed as new is:

1. The combination, with an article of footwear and the usual lace for the same, of a lace lock piece having upper and lower pairs of apertures, the middle portion of said lace extending between 10 piece and passing thru said lower apertures in cramped form to the upper face of said lock piece, the portions of said lace adjacent the mentioned middle portion being crossed above said piece and passing respectively thru the upper 15 pair of apertures.

3. The combination with an article of footwear and the usual lacei'or the same, or a lace lock piece having transversely of the shoe 9. plurality 01' pairs of apertures thru which the lace is passed, one pair of apertures being constricted so as to cramp the lace, said lock piece being notched substantially opposite one pair oi. apertures. and at opposed longitudinal edges or saidlock piece, the lace portion extending inwardly through said lastmentioned pair of apertures and passing around the edge or said lock piece and being positioned in said notches.

4. The combination 01' an article of footwear having lacing eyelets and the usual lace for the same, or a lace tag having transversely of the shoe a plurality of pairs of apertures through which the lace is passed and having marginal notches, one pair of said apertures and said notches registering with corresponding pairs oi! lacing eyelets in the article of footwear during the usual-lacing.

ROBERT E. HERMSON. 

